Flaw detector for tubing



@Ct. 15, H. C. DRAKE FLAW DETECTOR FOR TUBING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1944 Oct. 15, 1946. H. c. DRAKE 2,409,554

FLAW DETECTOR FOR TUBING Filed June 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 15, 1946 2,409,554

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLAW nn'rsc'roit FOR TUBING Harcourt 0. Brake, Hempstead, N.Y., assignor to Sperry Products, Inc, Hohoken, N. J., a corporation of-New York Application June 16, 1944, Serial No. 540,674

4 Claims. (Cl.175----183) This invention relates to flaw detector means is passed through anenergizing coil H which is for detecting defects in metallic tubing. More designed to energize thetube It with flux to particularly the invention relates to the type of generate eddy currents therein. The currents tubing tester known as the Sperry detector mechthus generated will be constant except in the anism wherein the tubing is energized with flux 5 region of flaw where a different amount of eddy and moved relatively to a pair of detector coils currents will be generated. Such Variations in designed to detect regions of non-uniformity in induced currents caused by flux may be detected the tubing caused by the presence of fissures or by means such as a pair, of opp induction other defects- 'When a length of tubing is passed coils i2 surrounding the tube It. The coils i2 through such a detector mechanism, the ends of are of equal inductance and connected in oppothe tubing cause a large distortion in the flux sition and are normally equally affected, but when distribution in the tubing and in the region sura regionof flaw occurs, first one and then the rounding. the tube so thatthe detector coils give other of the coils will have a different E. M. F.

an indication in the same manner as when a fisinduced therein togenerate a differential E; M. F. sure is present. The effect of the distortion 1;; which after being suitably amplified by an amcaused by the end of the tubing carries over for plifier may be caused to operate a suitable ina considerable length of the, tubingand if a true dicator shown diagrammatically atifi. The tube defect occurs within or adjacent to this end disit! may be guided through the energizing coil H tortion, such defect may'easily be missed. It is, and detector coils lii'by means cf pairs of guide therefore, desirable that two conditions exist durrollers i1, G8, I!) and may be driven by means of ing the testing of tubing, as follows: (1) that the a power driven roller 20 which is rotated fron'ua region of distortion be confinedto theminimur'n Source of power not shown. H possible length of tubing, in other words, sothat As set forth in the introductionjhereto, as the the end efiect previously described be held to a end of the tub g ph fl the detection minimum, and (2) that the indicating mechanism s" it is o d t the x bu n in be rendered ineffective for the interval during said end isso diffused as to cause alarge distor- I which the endefiect is present so that if a true tion beginning ata point substantially beforethe defect occurs adjacent this region, it will not be end. This distortion wo d Ordinarily b picked confused with the indication which wouldotherup by the detector coils i2 in the same manner wisebe producedby the end efiect. as a fissure or other true defect and would re- It is, therefore, the principal object of niy insuit in a large series of indications on the indivention to accomplish both of the desired results a ei c n m is. a true defect Occurred settforth above. I reduce'the regionof end efa jacent this region 0i, and f it would be iect of the tubing by causing thetubes to be fed mp ss l disfrillgllifihv it f m the indications through the detector mechanism in end to end caused by'the d efiect, Therefere, as e in contact. This has been found to reduce the tothe introduction it is desirable first that the end tal end effect to a substantial degreebelowf that ff ct behcldto a minimumand second, that the which would exist if the tube 'urere, fed'insepindicating mechanism be 'rendered ineffective durarately in spaced relation. For accomplishing ing the interval thatthe portion ofthe tubing the second object, namely, cutting out the new 40 subject ttoend effect is passing the detector coils indication during the passage of the tube end past l2.

the detector coils, I provide the novel mechanism I For accomplishing the first of these objectsQI to be describedhereinafter. I I U provide for feeding the tubes through the detec- Further objects and advantages of this inven tor-mechanism in end-to-end' contact. Thus the tion will become apparent inthe following; de- 4 forward end of. tube H1 is in contact with the tailed description thereof. A rear'end of tube l9, forming a'closed joint. in In the accompanying drawings,. f this...fashion it has been found that the total Fig. l isv aefront' elevation,v largely diagram lengthoit hing subjectto end efiect is substan niaticjand. partly sectioned,'showing"one f 1 ti; H V V v v oiroy invention. the" ub'es were ifed through the detctorrriechw Fig. 2 is.aview similar to Fig. l,'bu tshowing nis niri'spaced relation.

the parts in adifierent operative position. j or accomplishing-the second of theabove obreduced f rom; that which would result it liteferring toehig. 1 of the. drawings, there 7 ijects, namely, to cutout the indicating mechadi'sclosed a form of Eperry flaw detector for tubnisn'iirthat is, to render it ineffective, during the i s w c 1 ength or "can ne j is: ,to be tested as intervalthat he ends of thetuhessubiect td end eifect are passing the detector coils I2, I provide novel means for short-circuiting the indicating mechanism durin this interval. This novel means insures that the indicating mechanism Will trolled by the passage of the tubing through the detector mechanism. To accomplish these results, the succeeding is fed toward the upper end of roller and then passing the tube underneath a roller 26 whose lower end is below the lower ends of upper guide rollers i8 and H3. The result is shown in Fig. 1 wherein the forward end of tube in strikes the rear end of tube I0, but is below the level of tube l8. As the tube It? rides up on power roller 29,

in level between the incoming and the outgoing tubes is utilized to operate the cutout mechanism for rendering the indicator ineffective for the interval that the ends of the tubes subject to end eifect are passing the detector coils l2.

For this purpose, a lever 38 is provided, said lever being pivotally mounted at 3| and carrying at its forward end a slide 32 adapted to slide on the upper surface of the tubes and having at its other end an electric contact 33. The slide 32 normally rides upon the upper surface of tube it! to maintain contact 33 out of engagement with contact 34. When the slide 32 passes over the rear end of tube In and drops down to the lower level of the forward end of tube I 0', before the latter rides up on roller 28, the lever is rotated by spring 35 to cause contacts 33 and 34 to close and energize a magnet which then attracts a, latch 4| normally in engagement with a lug 42 on a roller 43 which is adapted to be driven from power roller 20 by any suitable means such as flexible drive 45 through reduction gear 44 and a friction clutch 41. Normally Since the drive of roller 43 and the feeding of tubes i0 and I0 have definite correlation, means are provided whereby after a teaser:

ergized when slide 32 drops from the rear end of tube E0 to the forward end of tube l0 which is at a lower level. However, tube I ll soon rides up on roller 20 to the same level as tube ll], thus, again opening contacts 33 and 34. normally de-energize magnet 40 and cause latch 4! to engage the surface of roller .3. Because the time interval during which contacts 33 and 34 are closed is very short, it is possible for latch 4| to drop and engage lug 42 before the roller 43 has rotated sufficiently to prevent such engagement. This is not desirable and therefore is provided on the roller 43 with its leading edge i so positioned that a set Of contacts 62 is closed as soon as .roller 43 starts to rotate. This set of contacts closes a holding circuit through magnet 40, said circuit including the battery 64 so that even when contacts 3-3 and 34 open, magnet 43 remains energized until the rear end 65 of cam 60 passes beyond contacts 62 to permit said contacts to open. This releases the latch 4| which is then in position to engage lug 4?. when the roller 43 completes a revolution.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statues, I have herein described the principle and trative and that the invention can be carried out by other equivalent means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted withfor moving said last-named end into alignment, and means actuated by said last-named end when moving into alignment for rendering effective the means for rendering the indicating means ineffective during the passage of the joint past the flaw responsive means.

2. In a fiaw detector mechanism for tubing, said mechanism comprising means for energizing sponsiv means, the ends of the tub causing flux variations similar to those caused by a flaw. means for moving the tubes through the detector mechanismwith the ends of adjacent tubes in contact to form a closed joint whereby the region of end effect is reduced, means for rendering the indicating means ineffective during the passage of said joint past the flaw responsive means, said last-named means comprising rotatable means normally,helda'gainst rotation, means for maintaining the adjacent end'of cheer the tubes at a joint initially out of alignment, means for moving said last-named end into alignment, and means actuated by said last-named end when moving into alignment for setting said rotatable means into rotation.

3. In a flaw detector mechanism for tubing, said mechanism comprising means for energizing the tube with flux, means responsive to variations in flux in the tube, and indicating means adapted to be actuated by variations in the responsive means, the ends of the tube causing flux variations similar to those caused by a flaw, means for moving the tubes through the detector mechanism with the ends of adjacent tubes in contact to form a closed joint whereby the region of end effect is reduced, means for rendering the indicating means ineffective during the passage of said joint past the flaw responsive means, means for maintaining the adjacent end of one of the tubes at a joint initially out of alignmen means for moving said last-named end into alignment, and means actuated by said last-named end when moving into alignment for rendering effective the means for rendering the indicating means ineffective, and means for maintaining effective the means for rendering the indicating means ineffective after the restoration of said last-named said joint past the end to alignment and until said joint has passed beyond the flaw responsive means.

4. In a flaw detector mechanism for tubing, said mechanism comprising means for energizing the tube with flux, means responsive to variations in flux in the tube, and indicating means adapted to be actuated by variations in the responsive means, the ends of the tube causing flux variations similar to those caused by a flaw, means for moving the tubes through the detector mechanism with the ends of adjacent tubes in contact to form a closed joint whereby the region of end effect is reduced, means for rendering the indicating means ineffective during the passage of flaw responsive means, said last-named means comprising rotatable means normally held against rotation, means for maintaining the adjacent end of one of the tubes at a joint initially out of alignment, means for moving said last-named end into alignment, means actuated by said end when moving into alignment for setting said rotatable means into rotation, and means for continuing the rotation of said rotatable means after the restoration of said lastnamed end to alignment and until said joint has passed beyond the flaw responsive means.

HARCOURT C. DRAKE. 

